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Metairie residents caught swiping crabs from traps, agents say

Blue crab

According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents, two Metairie residents were busted stealing crabs from traps on Friday. (Photo by Todd Masson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
(Todd Masson)

A 63-pound box of crabs is a lot of crabs. According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents, that's what two Metairie residents stole from traps in Lake Pontchartrain.

After receiving complaints about crabs missing from traps in the area, agents set up surveillance along the shoreline of the lake on Friday. While there, agents say they observed David Shelhorse Jr., 37, and Jennifer Bourgeois, 31, running traps with different-color corks.

They stopped the subjects and discovered the traps belonged to another commercial fisherman, LDWF reported Monday.

The penalty for illegally removing contents of crab traps is a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.

To see how many pounds of blue crabs are caught each year in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, click here.